Faye

On the morning of the 25th of December 2016, field rangers on patrol in the Skukuza section of the Kruger National Park saw a badly injured rhino and reported it. Dr Peter Buss and his team darted the cow and after investigation found that it was impossible to save her.

The poachers had shot her in the leg with a high calibre rifle, shattering her leg bones. The heart-breaking decision had to be made to euthanize her, and her still suckling baby had to be airlifted to the Skukuza bomas.

Fortunately, the mother rhino did not suffer for long, and that lions and hyenas did not hurt her or her calf.

The female calf comes from the area Mlaleni near Pretoriuskop, known for the prickly pears in the area. We decided to name her Faye which means Confidence, Trust and Belief as well as translates to ‘Fairy’ in French.